Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2647 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 1 1
	3	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 1
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28		-	ENGROSSED HOUSE
29		-	BILL NO. 2647 By: Steagall of the House
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
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31		-	~~and~~
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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33		-	Dahm of the Senate
	33	+	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
	34	+
	35	+	HOUSE BILL 2647 By: Steagall
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	39	+	AS INTRODUCED
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39	41		An Act relating to firearms; amending 21 O.S. 2021,
40	42		Section 1289.24a, which relates to the Okla homa
41	43		Firearms Act of 1971 ; expanding scope of declaration
42	44		to include firearm accessories; defining terms;
43	45		prohibiting the filing of civil actions or special
44	46		proceedings under certain circumstances; establishing
45	47		procedures for courts to follow when certain motion
46	48		is filed; providing appeal rights; providing for the
47	49		award of costs and attorney fees; authorizing the
48	50		filing of civil actions or special proce edings;
49	51		requiring specificity when fil ing claims for relief;
50	52		and providing an effective date.
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55	55		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
56	56		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1289.24a, is
57	57		amended to read as follows:
58	58		Section 1289.24a 1. A. The State Legislature declares that the
59	59		lawful design, marketing, man ufacturing, or sale of firearms ,
60	60		firearm accessories, or ammunition to the public is not unreasonably
61	61		dangerous activity and does not constitute a nuisan ce.
62	62		2. B. As used in this section :
	63	+	1. "Ammunition" means a fully assembled cartridge and all its
	64	+	components including bullet, projectil e, shot, cartridge case, wad,
	65	+	primer, and propellant powder designed for use in a firearm ;
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64		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 2 1
	67	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 2
	68	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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89		-	1. "Ammunition" means a fully assembled cartridge and all its
90		-	components including bullet, projectil e, shot, cartridge case, wad,
91		-	primer, and propellant powder designed for use in a firearm ;
92	93		2. "Dealer" means:
93	94		a. any person engaged in the business of selling
94	95		firearms, firearm accessories , or ammunition at
95	96		wholesale or retail,
96	97		b. any person engaged in th e business of gunsmithing
97	98		including repairing firearms or making or fitting
98	99		special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to
99	100		firearms, or
100	101		c. any person who is a pawnbroker licensed by the federal
101	102		government to sell firear ms. A dealer is not a
102	103		manufacturer, importer, exporter, or trade
103	104		association;
104	105		3. "Exporter" means a person engaged in foreign commerce of
105	106		firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition for purposes of sale or
106	107		distribution outside the United States ;
107	108		4. "Firearm" means a rifle, pistol or sh otgun;
108	109		5. "Firearm accessory" means any component part of a firearm,
109	110		any device designed and intended to enable the wearing or carrying
110	111		of a firearm on one's person, or any device designed and intended to
111	112		be inserted into or affixed onto a firearm to enab le, or improve or
	113	+	enhance the functioning or capabilities of a firearm , including
	114	+	without limitation firearm silencers or suppressors, and optics;
	115	+	6. "Importer" means any person engaged in the business of
	116	+	importing or bringing firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition
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113		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 3 1
	118	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 3
	119	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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138		-	enhance the functioning or capabilities of a firearm , including
139		-	without limitation firearm silencers or suppressors, and optics;
140		-	6. "Importer" means any person engaged in the business of
141		-	importing or bringing firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition
142	144		into the United States for purposes of sale or distribution within
143	145		the United States;
144	146		7. "Manufacturer" means a person who is engaged in the business
145	147		of manufacturing and is licensed as a manufacturer pursuant to the
146	148		provisions of Chapter 44 of Title 18 of the United States Co de, or
147	149		who manufactures firearm accessories or components of ammunition ;
148	150		8. "Person" means any individual, corporation, business trust,
149	151		estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association,
150	152		governmental entity or body politic or other organization; and
151	153		9. "Trade association" means a corporation, unincorporated
152	154		association, federation, business league, or professional or
153	155		business organization not organized or operated fo r profit that
154	156		meets all of the fol lowing criteria:
155	157		a. no part of its net earnings inures to the benefit of
156	158		any private shareholder or individual ,
157	159		b. it is an organization described in Section 501(c)(6)
158	160		of Title 26 of the United States Code and exempt from
159	161		tax under Section 501(a) of Title 26 of the United
160	162		States Code, and
	163	+	c. two or more of its members are manufacturers ,
	164	+	distributors, dealers, importers, or exporters of
	165	+	firearms, firearm accessories , or ammunition.
	166	+	C. The authority to bring suit and right t o recover against any
	167	+	firearms or ammunition manufacturer, trade associat ion, or dealer by
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162		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 4 1
	169	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 4
	170	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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187		-	c. two or more of its members are manufacturers ,
188		-	distributors, dealers, importers, or exporters of
189		-	firearms, firearm accessories , or ammunition.
190		-	C. The authority to bring suit and right t o recover against any
191		-	firearms or ammunition manufacturer, trade association, or dealer by
192	195		or on behalf of any governmental unit created by or pursuant to an
193	196		act of the Legislature or the Constitution, or any department,
194	197		agency, or authority thereof, for d amages, abatement, or injunctive
195	198		relief resulting from or relating to the lawful design,
196	199		manufacturing, marketing, or sale of firearms , firearm accessories ,
197	200		or ammunition to the public shall be reserved exclusively to the
198	201		state. This paragraph shall not p rohibit a political subdivision or
199	202		local government authorit y from bringing an action against a
200	203		firearms or ammunition manufacturer or dealer for breach of contract
201	204		or warranty as to firearms or ammunition purchased by the politica l
202	205		subdivision or local go vernment authority. This bill shall not be
203	206		construed to prohibit an individual from bringing a cause of action
204	207		based upon an existing recognized theory of law.
205	208		D. A person may not bring , file, or maintain any civil action
206	209		or special proceeding against a firearm, firearm accessory, or
207	210		ammunition manufacturer, distributor, dealer, importer, exporter, or
208	211		trade association, or the owners, shareholders, directors, and
209	212		employees of any such entity, for any of the following:
	213	+	1. Recovery of damages, punitive damages, restitution, fines,
	214	+	penalties, injunctive or declaratory relief or other remedy relating
	215	+	to the design, manufacture, distribution, advertising, marketing, or
	216	+	sale of a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition ;
	217	+	2. Recovery of damages, punitive damages, restitution, fines,
	218	+	penalties, injunctive or declaratory relief or other remedy
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211		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 5 1
	220	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 5
	221	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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236		-	1. Recovery of damages, punitive damages, restitution, fines,
237		-	penalties, injunctive or declaratory relief or other remedy relating
238		-	to the design, manufacture, distribution, advertising, marketing, or
239		-	sale of a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition ;
240		-	2. Recovery of damages, punitive damages, restitution, fines,
241		-	penalties, injunctive or declaratory relief or other remedy
242	246		resulting from the criminal or unlawful use of a firearm, firearm
243	247		accessory, or ammunition by a third party; or
244	248		3. Recovery of damages, punitive damages, restitution, fine s,
245	249		penalties, injunctive or declaratory relief or other remedy based on
246	250		any legal theory that the marketing or advertising of a firearm,
247	251		firearm accessories, or ammunition was the cause of any personal
248	252		injury, death, or property damage or caused or contributed to the
249	253		creation or maintaining of a public nuisance .
250	254		E. 1. If a defendant files a motion asserting that a plaintiff
251	255		has filed a civil action or special proceeding prohibited under this
252	256		section, the court shall stay all proceedings including discovery
253	257		and decide the motion based on the pleadings. If the court
254	258		determines the plaintiff has filed a civil action or special
255	259		proceeding asserting a ny cause of action or claim prohibited under
256	260		this section, then such finding shall constitute conclusive eviden ce
257	261		that the civil action or specia l proceeding is prohibited by law and
258	262		the court shall immediately dismiss the civil action or special
259	263		proceeding or dismiss with prejudi ce all prohibited causes of action
	264	+	and claims set forth in the complaint . An order denying such
	265	+	motion, in whole or in part, may be appealed.
	266	+	2. If a civil action or special proceeding, or any cause of
	267	+	action or claim is dismissed pursuant to th e provisions of this
	268	+	subsection, the court shall award to the defendant costs and
	269	+	reasonable attorney fees incurred in defending against the civil
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261		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 6 1
	271	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 6
	272	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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286		-	and claims set forth in the complaint . An order denying such
287		-	motion, in whole or in part, may be appealed.
288		-	2. If a civil action or special proceeding, or any cause of
289		-	action or claim is dismissed pursuant to th e provisions of this
290		-	subsection, the court shall award to the defendant costs and
291		-	reasonable attorney fees incurred in defending against the civil
292	297		action or special proceeding or any dismissed cause of action or
293	298		claim. In cases that were pending on the date of the enactment of
294	299		the provisions of this section, the court shall only award attorney
295	300		fees as of the date the defendant notifies the plaintiff in wri ting
296	301		that this section has gone into effect a nd requests that the
297	302		plaintiff voluntarily dismiss the civil action or special
298	303		proceeding, or all prohibited causes of action or claims.
299	304		F. Nothing in this section prohibits a person fr om filing,
300	305		bringing, or maintaining a civil action or special proceeding
301	306		against a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition manufacturer,
302	307		distributor, dealer, importer, exporter, or trade association for
303	308		any of the following:
304	309		1. Breach of contract or war ranty concerning firearms , firearm
305	310		accessories, or ammunitio n purchased by a person ;
306	311		2. Death, physical injuries, or property damage resulting
307	312		directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the product when
308	313		the product is used as designed and intended or in a reasonably
309	314		foreseeable manner; except that, where the discharge of the firearm
	315	+	or ammunition was caused by a volitional act that constituted a n
	316	+	unlawful or criminal offense, regardless of whether the person
	317	+	discharging the firearm or ammunition was criminally charged ,
	318	+	prosecuted or convicted or charged as a juvenile, then such
	319	+	volitional act shall be considered the sole proximate cause of any
	320	+	resulting death, personal injuries, or property damage ;
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311		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2647 Page 7 1
	322	+	HB2647 HFLR Page 7
	323	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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336		-	or ammunition was caused by a volitional act that constituted a n
337		-	unlawful or criminal offense, regardless of whether the person
338		-	discharging the firearm or ammunition was criminally charged ,
339		-	prosecuted or convicted or charged as a juvenile, then such
340		-	volitional act shall be considered the sole proximate cause of any
341		-	resulting death, personal injuries, or property damage ;
342	348		3. Death or physical injuries resulting directly from the sale
343	349		of a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition in violation of a
344	350		federal or state law or regulation specifically and exclusively
345	351		regulating the sale of firearms, firearm accessories , or ammunition;
346	352		or
347	353		4. A civil action or special proceeding a gainst a dealer for
348	354		death or physical injuries resulting directly from the negligent
349	355		entrustment by the dealer of a firearm or ammunition for use by
350	356		another person when the dealer knows, or reasonably should know, th e
351	357		person to whom the firearm or ammunition is supplied is likel y to,
352	358		and does in fact, use the product in a manner involving unreasonable
353	359		risk of physical injury to others.
354	360		G. In any civil action or special proceeding not barred by the
355	361		provisions of this section, all claims for relief contained in the
356	362		complaint must be plead with specificity.
357	363		SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
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384		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 22nd day of March, 2023.
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389		-	Presiding Officer of the House
390		-	of Representatives
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393		-	Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2023.
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398		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
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	365	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON STATE POWERS, dated 03/01/2023 -
	366	+	DO PASS.